Antegrade retrieval of ureteral stents through an 8-French percutaneous nephrostomy route.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to describe the technique of antegrade retrieval of ureteral stents under fluoroscopic guidance through an 8-French nephrostomy.


METHODS
During an 8-year period, we retrieved 26 ureteral stents from 24 patients who were not candidates for retrograde removal or had other conditions precluding use of a retrograde approach. A loop snare or grasping forceps was used to retrieve a ureteral stent in the renal pelvis or calyx or upper ureter through an 8-French vascular sheath with a safety wire in place. A snare catheter advanced into the bladder for retrieval of the bladder end was used in patients in whom retrieval with both a loop snare and a grasping forceps failed.


RESULTS
All 26 ureteral stents were successfully retrieved by the antegrade approach. Ten stents were retrieved with a snare alone and nine with a forceps alone. Five stents were retrieved successfully with a forceps after initial failures with snare catheters. Two stents were retrieved with snare catheters advanced into the bladder. The major complication of nephrostomy wound infection occurred in a patient with a urinary tract infection who underwent a one-stage procedure. All minor complications, including pelvic perforation in one patient and blood clot in the renal pelvis in four patients, resolved spontaneously without adverse sequelae.


CONCLUSIONS
Antegrade percutaneous retrieval of a ureteral stent through an 8-French nephrostomy is safe and effective and has a high degree of technical success. It can be used as a routine interventional practice in radiology.
Liang
Huei-Lung
HL
Department of Radiology, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, 386 Ta-Chung 1st Rd., Kaohsiung, 81346 Taiwan.
Yang
Tsung-Lung
TL
Huang
Jer-Shyung
JS
Lin
Yih-Huie
YH
Chou
Chen-Pin
CP
Chen
Matt Chiung-Yu
MC
Pan
Huay-Ben
HB
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020878:Device Removal / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009403:Nephrostomy, Percutaneous / Q000379:methods*; D015641:Radiography, Interventional / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents; D014517:Ureteral Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*